GB2156852A - Electrolyte for anodisation of aluminium or for electrolytic capacitors - Google Patents

Electrolyte for anodisation of aluminium or for electrolytic capacitors Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2156852A
GB2156852A GB08508118A GB8508118A GB2156852A GB 2156852 A GB2156852 A GB 2156852A GB 08508118 A GB08508118 A GB 08508118A GB 8508118 A GB8508118 A GB 8508118A GB 2156852 A GB2156852 A GB 2156852A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
electrolyte
amino acid
electrolyte according
aluminium
acid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08508118A
Other versions
GB8508118D0 (en
GB2156852B (en
Inventor
Steven Michael Florio
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sprague Electric Co
Original Assignee
Sprague Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sprague Electric Co filed Critical Sprague Electric Co
Publication of GB8508118D0 publication Critical patent/GB8508118D0/en
Publication of GB2156852A publication Critical patent/GB2156852A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2156852B publication Critical patent/GB2156852B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25DPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D11/00Electrolytic coating by surface reaction, i.e. forming conversion layers
    • C25D11/02Anodisation
    • C25D11/04Anodisation of aluminium or alloys based thereon
    • C25D11/06Anodisation of aluminium or alloys based thereon characterised by the electrolytes used
    • C25D11/10Anodisation of aluminium or alloys based thereon characterised by the electrolytes used containing organic acids

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
  • Water Treatment By Electricity Or Magnetism (AREA)
  • Electric Double-Layer Capacitors Or The Like (AREA)
  • Fixed Capacitors And Capacitor Manufacturing Machines (AREA)

Description

1 GB 2 156 852A 1
SPECIFICATION
Electrolyte for use in the anodisation of aluminium The present invention is concerned with electrolytes for use in the anodisation of aluminium and, more particularly, with electrolytes which can be used to anodise aluminium to form a low voltage (0- 12 5V) barrier layer of dielectric oxide on the surface of the aluminium or as fill electrolytes in low voltage (0-63V) aluminium electrolytic capacitors.
Salts of carboxylic acids have been used as solutes in the aluminium electrolytic capacitor industry. Aqueous solutions of carboxylic acid salts, for example, citrates, tartrates, and adipates, have been used as anodisation or formation electrolytes, while these compounds and others have been used in non-aqueous operating or fill electrolytes in aluminium electrolytic capacitors.
We have now developed an electrolyte which can be used to form a stable, high capacitance layer of anodic oxide on aluminium and which is suitable for use both as an anodisation electrolyte and as an operating or fill electrolyte in aluminium electrolytic capacitors.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electrolyte for use in the anodisation of aluminium and/or as an operating electrolyte for aluminium electrolytic capacitors, which comprises an amino acid and a base dissolved in a solvent and having a pH of from 5.5 to 8.5.
The amino acid is preferably a 2-amino acid, more preferably a dicarboxylic acid, such as aspartic acid or glutamic acid. The solvent may be water which is commonly used in anodisation electrolytes, or one of the known organic solvents used in electrolytic capacitor fill electrolytes, such as ethylene glycol, N,Ndimethylformamide, 4- butyrolactone, and Nmethylpyrrolidi none.
When the electrolyte of the invention is used as an anodisation electrolyte, the layer of oxide formed on the surface of the aluminium is at least partially crystalline. The capacitance of the layer is higher than that obtained using 115 known anodising electrolytes, such as dilute aqueous ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, which do not produce a layer containing much crystalline oxide. The increased capaci- tance appears to be associated with an increase in the ratio of crystalline to amorphous oxide in the layer.
The highest capacitance is obtained in different electrolytes at different voltages, de- pending on the nature of the solute and the current efficiency of oxide formation. Thus in electrolytes which contain aspartic acid, the highest capacitance is obtained at a lower voltage than in other electrolytes, such as those containing adipic acid, and a higher degree of hydration resistance is obtained.
The formation efficiency of the electrolyte of the present invention is higher than that of other electrolytes, such as citrate and tartrate, which are known to produce a layer containing a comparable amount of crystalline oxide; thus it is possible to use the electrolyte of the invention to anodise aluminium to a higher surface capacitance within a reasonable amount of time.
When a solution of the amino acid in a nonaqueous capacitor solvent is used as a fill electrolyte, the formation rate is still satisfactory for repairing breakdown of the oxide layer during capacitor operation.
The electrolyte is found to give the best results when the amino acid is partially neutrafised with a base to give a pH of from 5.5 to 8.5. When the electrolyte is to be used as a formation electrolyte, the base is preferably ammonia, sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide. However, if the formation is to be carried out at an elevated temperature, an amine which is less volatile than ammonia may be used as the base. In this connection, the ethylamines (mono-, di-, and triethylamines) have proved satisfactory. When the electrolyte is to be used as a fill electrolyte in a capacitor, then ammonia or an amine is pre- ferably used to partially neutralise the amino acid.
When the electrolyte is to be used as an anodisation electrolyte, an aqueous solution of a 2-amino acid is preferred. Particularly pre- ferred 2-amino acids are the amino analogues of 2-hydroxy carboxylic acids which are known to be suitable for anodising aluminium, and specifically aspartic acid and glutamic acid.
Similarly, for fill electrolytes in capacitors, amino acid analogues of hydroxy carboxylic acids are suitable and have sufficient solubility in the organic solvents commonly used in capacitors.
For use as an anodisation electrolyte, the concentration of amino acid is preferably from 0.05 to 5 wt.%, the usual concentration range for such electrolytes; while for use as a fill electrolyte, the concentration of amino acid is preferably higher and is preferably from 5 to 10 wt.%.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, the following examples are given by way of illustration only.
Example 1
An aqueous anodisation electrolyte containing 0.1 wt.% of aspartic acid and partially neutralised with ammonium hydroxide was compared with: (a) a conventional 0. 1 wt.% ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) anodisation electrolyte; (b) a 0.1 wt.% ammonium adipate electrolyte; and (c) a 0.1 wt.% ammonium citrate electrolyte.
Electropolished aluminium foil was anodised 2 GB 2 156 852A 2 to 1 OOV at a constant current density of 1 mA/ CM2 at a temperature of WC in all four electrolytes. The % increases in the capacitance of the resulting surface layers of oxide in the adipate, citrate, and aspartate electrolytes relative to the conventional ADP electrolyte were 17.9%, 25.3%, and 41.5%, respectively. The ratios of formation charges required for anodisation in the adipate, citrate, and aspartate electrolytes to that required by the conventional ADP electrolyte were 0.97, 1.52, and 1.10, respectively. Thus, the aspartate electrolyte produced the highest capacitance, while still giving efficient oxide forma- tion.
This work was then extended to etched aluminium foil. The etched foil was anodised to 1 0Ov at a constant current of 1.5A at a temperature of WC in all four electrolytes.
The best results were obtained at a pH of from 5.7 to 7.6 and for the aspartate electrolyte were as follows: at pH 5.7, 41.81tF capacitance and 0. 1 596gA leakage current; at pH 6.6, 43.8gF and 0. 1 523gA; and at pH 7.6, 41.9juF and 0. 13 5OgA. The capacitance and leakage current obtained using the con ventional ADP electrolyte were 29.6gF and aspartate 0. 11 56gA. The % improvements in capacitance in the adipate, citrate and aspar tate electrolytes over the conventional electro- 95 lyte were 41.2%, 48.0%, and 41.6%, re spectively.
A series of experiments established an opti mum pH range for the aspartate electrolyte of 5.5 to 8.5, preferably 5.7 to 7.6 as shown above. At pH values above and below this range, the resulting capacitance was reduced.
The aspartate electrolyte gave satisfactory results at temperatures of from 2WC to its boiling point (approximately 1 OWC for an aqueous solution), but the lower temperatures were more difficult to control, particularly with the exothermic anodisation reaction. It was therefore desirable to optimise the process at a higher temperature, namely about WC, where local overheating has little effect on product quality and the anodising time is suitable for integration of the process into existing manufacturing sequences.
Another series of experiments established that the best results were obtained when the amino acid concentration in the aspartate electrolyte was in the range of 0.05 to 5 wt.%, more preferably 0.1 to 3.5 wt.%.
The glycol electrolyte had a pH of 8.4, a resistivity of 670 S?,cm, and maximum formation voltages of 200v at 25C and 150v at 85'C. the properties of the glycol electrolyte make it suitable for a 1 00v capacitor and the DMF electrolyte is suitable for 200v service.
By varying the nature of the solvent and the amount of the solute, a variety of fill electrolytes may be prepared which are suitable for a range of anodisation voltages and operating temperatures.
Example 2
Two fill electrolytes were prepared using N,N-dimethylformamide and ethylene glycol as the solvents. Each contained 8.1 wt.% of aspartic acid, 4.5 wt.% diethylamine and 6.5 wt.% of water, the balance being dimethylformamide and ethylene glycol respectively. The DMF electrolyte had a pH of 7.4, a resistivity of 27802-cm and maximum formation voltages of 350v at 25'C and 275v at WC.

Claims (17)

1. An electrolyte for use in the anodisation of aluminium and/or as an operating electrolyte for aluminium electrolytic capacitors, which comprises an amino acid and a base dissolved in a solvent and having a pH of from 5.5 to 8.5.
2. An electrolyte according to claim 1, in which the amino acid is a 2amino acid.
3. An electrolyte according to claim 2, in which the 2-amino acid is a dicarboxylic acid.
4. An electrolyte according to claim 3, in which the amino acid is glutamic acid or aspartic acid.
5. An electrolyte according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the solvent is an organic electrolytic capacitor solvent.
6. An electrolyte according to claim 5, in which the solvent is ethylene glycol or N,Ndimethylformamide.
7. An electrolyte according to claim 6, in which the base is ammonia or an amine.
8. An electrolyte according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which the concentration of the amino acid is from 5 to 10 wt.%.
9. An electrolyte according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the solvent is water.
10. An electrolyte according to claim 9, in which the base is sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonia, or an amine.
11. An electrolyte according to claim 10, in which the amine is ethylamine, diethylam- ine, or triethylamine.
12. An electrolyte according to any of claims 9 to 11, in which the concentration of the amino acid is from 0.05 to 5 wt.%.
13. An electrolyte according to claim 12, in which the concentration of the amino acid is from 0. 1 to 3.5 wt.% and the pH is 6.6.
14. A process for the electromechanical anodisation of aluminium, which comprises applying an anodising voltage to the alumi- nium whilst it is immersed in an electrolyte as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, at a temperature of from 25' to 1 OWC in order to form a dielectric layer of oxide on the surface of the aluminium.
15. A process according to claim 14, in which the aluminium is aluminium electrolytic capacitor foil, the dielectric layer of oxide is at least partially crystalline, and the concentra tion of amino acid in the electrolyte is from 0.05 to 5 wt.%.
3 GB 2 156 852A 3
16. A process according to claim 14 or 15, in which the temperature is 85T, the pH is 7, the amino acid is aspartic acid, and the concentration of amino acid in the electrolyte is from 0. 1 to 3.5 wt.%.
17. An electrolyte according to claim 1 substantially as herein described in either of the Examples.
Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Dd 8818935, 1985, 4235. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.
GB08508118A 1984-04-02 1985-03-28 Electrolyte for anodisation of aluminium or for electrolytic capacitors Expired GB2156852B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/595,883 US4715936A (en) 1984-04-02 1984-04-02 Process for anodizing aluminum for an aluminum electrolytic capacitor

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8508118D0 GB8508118D0 (en) 1985-05-01
GB2156852A true GB2156852A (en) 1985-10-16
GB2156852B GB2156852B (en) 1988-02-10

Family

ID=24385099

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08508118A Expired GB2156852B (en) 1984-04-02 1985-03-28 Electrolyte for anodisation of aluminium or for electrolytic capacitors

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4715936A (en)
JP (1) JPS60224797A (en)
CA (1) CA1236422A (en)
GB (1) GB2156852B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4975806A (en) * 1989-05-17 1990-12-04 Aerovox M Electrolytic capacitor and electrolyte therefore

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0778280B2 (en) * 1988-07-28 1995-08-23 株式会社日立製作所 Metal anti-corrosion surface treatment method
JPH0782968B2 (en) * 1988-08-03 1995-09-06 信英通信工業株式会社 Method for manufacturing electrode foil for aluminum electrolytic capacitor
JPH0285826A (en) * 1988-09-22 1990-03-27 Hitachi Ltd Display panel
US6475368B2 (en) 2001-03-07 2002-11-05 Kemet Electronics Corporation Method of aqueous anodizing aluminum substrates of solid capacitors
US6562652B2 (en) 2001-06-06 2003-05-13 Kemet Electronics Corporation Edge formation process with anodizing for aluminum solid electrolytic capacitor
US6548324B2 (en) 2001-06-06 2003-04-15 Kemet Electronics Corporation Edge formation process without anodizing for aluminum solid electrolytic capacitor
US20040140221A1 (en) * 2003-01-21 2004-07-22 Kinard John Tony Method of anodizing aluminum utilizing stabilized silicate solutions
CN1870863B (en) * 2005-05-28 2011-06-08 鸿富锦精密工业(深圳)有限公司 Casing of portable electronic device and its manufacturing method
US20080265218A1 (en) * 2007-04-24 2008-10-30 Lifchits Alexandre D Composite layer and method of forming same
US8609254B2 (en) 2010-05-19 2013-12-17 Sanford Process Corporation Microcrystalline anodic coatings and related methods therefor
US8512872B2 (en) 2010-05-19 2013-08-20 Dupalectpa-CHN, LLC Sealed anodic coatings

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3773631A (en) * 1970-10-16 1973-11-20 Blasberg Gmbh & Co Kg Friedr Aqueous electrolytic bath for coloring anodic oxide layers on aluminum and aluminum alloy substrates and process for coloring said substrates
GB1359770A (en) * 1971-05-18 1974-07-10 Isovolta Method of anodising parts or objects consisting entirely or partly of aluminium or aluminium alloys

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA755557A (en) * 1967-03-28 F. G. Chesnot Bernard Electrolytes and electrolytic capacitors
US1266557A (en) * 1916-05-03 1918-05-21 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Film-forming electrolyte.
US2122392A (en) * 1934-09-10 1938-06-28 Sprague Specialties Co Electrolytic device
US2166180A (en) * 1935-03-09 1939-07-18 Ruben Samuel Electrolytic condenser
US3524799A (en) * 1969-06-13 1970-08-18 Reynolds Metals Co Anodizing aluminum
US4152221A (en) * 1977-09-12 1979-05-01 Nancy Lee Kaye Anodizing method

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3773631A (en) * 1970-10-16 1973-11-20 Blasberg Gmbh & Co Kg Friedr Aqueous electrolytic bath for coloring anodic oxide layers on aluminum and aluminum alloy substrates and process for coloring said substrates
GB1359770A (en) * 1971-05-18 1974-07-10 Isovolta Method of anodising parts or objects consisting entirely or partly of aluminium or aluminium alloys

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4975806A (en) * 1989-05-17 1990-12-04 Aerovox M Electrolytic capacitor and electrolyte therefore

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS60224797A (en) 1985-11-09
CA1236422A (en) 1988-05-10
GB8508118D0 (en) 1985-05-01
GB2156852B (en) 1988-02-10
US4715936A (en) 1987-12-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
GB2156852A (en) Electrolyte for anodisation of aluminium or for electrolytic capacitors
CA1252062A (en) Anodization of aluminum electrolytic capacitor foil
EP0255756B1 (en) Method for producing high purity quaternary ammonium hydroxides
EP0616343B1 (en) Method of manufacturing anode foil for aluminium electrolytic capacitors
US3767541A (en) Anodized film for electrolytic capacitor and method for preparation thereof
US3193481A (en) Electrolytic hydrodimerization alpha, beta-olefinic nitriles
US3728237A (en) Method of manufacturing aluminum electrode foil for electrolytic capacitors
CN1011746B (en) Electrolytic solution for electrolytic condenser
US4692224A (en) Volatile anodizing electrolytes for tantalum
US3351823A (en) Non-aqueous capacitor electrolyte having a salt dissolved in a co- solvent
US4110817A (en) Electrolytic capacitor with an electrolyte including dibasic acid compounds
US4670175A (en) Electrolyte for electrolytic capacitor
US2039154A (en) Electrolytic condenser
KR0173687B1 (en) Electrolyte for electrolytic capacitor and electrolytic capacitor using the same
US4735696A (en) Method of electrolytically graining aluminum metal sheets suitable for lithographic plate supports
EP0299496B1 (en) Electrolytic capacitor
DE3323047A1 (en) METHOD FOR PRODUCING PHENAETHYLAMINES
JP2739217B2 (en) Electrolytic solution for driving electrolytic capacitor and method for producing the same
KR890001604B1 (en) Aluminum diaphragm manufacture method of electrolytic capacitor
JPH0378773B2 (en)
JPH0566005B2 (en)
JP2002217067A (en) Electrolyte for driving electrolytic capacitor
KR100280289B1 (en) Electrolytic Solution for Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors
EP0534044A1 (en) Method for etching an aluminum foil for an electrolytic capacitor
JPS6356697B2 (en)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
746 Register noted 'licences of right' (sect. 46/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee